BQE Core - Time, Billing, Project Management, and Accounting Software

BQE Core is a cloud-based solution that offers integrated business accounting, project management, and business intelligence. It can support the operations of a variety of industries, including legal services, architecture firms, engineering, accounting, consulting, graphic and interior design, and more.

BQE Core can be accessed from any browser or device and has fully-functional, native apps for iPhone and Android devices. The solution also comes with over 200 customizable report templates to generate different invoice types: percent complete, retainer, recurring, fixed, hourly, phased, joint and more.

Good project management resource

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Pros

- Create projects and individual project phases as independent billing items.
- Assign budgets and tasks on a phase level, allowing for greater delineation of phases.
- Notify team members by email when tasks are assigned.

Cons

- Sorting time entries by individual tasks is not as straight-forward as other programs.
- Dashboard customization is limited.

Still on the fence

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Still undecided whether this was a good move for our small business.

Pros

User-friendly for time sheet and expense entry. Does have helpful and useful PM functions. Somewhat intuitive to set up - but if set up is incorrect, be ready to restart from zero. Regular webinars provided which are very helpful.

Cons

Very buggy using more complex functions. Error messages are unhelpful. Can do a thousand thing poorly/with difficulty/with error messages but wish it did just a couple dozen easily and flawlessly. Integration with QuickBooks is a great idea but mostly does not work the way it should. Beware of using anything other than their default storage. Expect regular up-sell emails. Expensive for what feels like beta-testing.

I am a small consulting engineering firm and use this for time accounting and invoicing. Additioanl features and capabilites are available as I grow into them.

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This is fairly intuitive for a non-programming type of user. Results have been good and reliable. Support help has been very good, both from my account rep and tech support. It is good to have backup when things get lost, and BQE has been there. I look forward to exploring other features as my needs grow.

Cons

I have the basic level program and am curious about extended planning tools and features. We will see if these are as intuitive and the basic functions.

Absolutely amazing!

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We switched to Core just over 6 months ago after struggling with a competing service for years. Core is very intuitive to use and easy to enter time and expenses for each internal and external project!

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So far so good! My only critique is that I wish the dashboard had more customization available and that I could create specific widgets for various project metrics.

So far this is the best time and project management software we've encountered!

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We migrated to Core after using several other project and time management services over the past few years. Core is easy to navigate and train our staff how to accurately enter and track time for each project, expense tracking, resource allocation and overall integration with our Quickbooks software.

Cons

Core is one of the more expensive project and time management services we've used. But the lower priced competitors left us wanting.

Best time and project management program we've used

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- Time entries can be viewed in both Time Card and Time Entry views, depending on user preferences
- Expense tracking and allocation to specific projects
- Adding notes to time entries helps our accounting processes
- Works with Quickbooks

Our new favourite time and expense tracking software

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We've used several time and expense tracking services over the years, and Core is by and large the best program we've used. It's layout is easy to understand and navigate, and the expense tracking is seamless.

Cons

We have no negative comments regarding Core since we started using it seven months ago. So far it has lived up to our expectations.

Don't use this software!

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I wasn't going to renew because I couldn't get the information I needed for breaking down my revenue sources. I was promised that the reports would be improved and do exactly as I needed. This was not true. After literally hours on the phone, they told me that in fact no - I couldn't get the reports I was promised. Shortly thereafter, all of my work in progress disappeared. I again worked with support and sent a back-up. They printed me a partial copy of the WIP but it would all have to be re-entered. I didn't renew. Now, I can't get a copy of any old billing invoices unless I pay the renewal fee. I spoke with a manager and basically, it's not their problem because I no longer have a current subscription. This is a horrible company to work with.

Pros

I liked the work in progress reports. Until all of my WIP disappeared. I also liked the ability to customize invoices.

Cons

The salespeople have no idea how the software works and will guarantee the software can print reports that aren't available.

6 months in and it blows us away!

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The time and expense features are the key reasons we started using Core over 6 months ago. It has simplified our accounting process by billing directly to projects and saved time on generating invoices.

Cons

It took a while to configure when you have a large running list of projects. We ultimately had to get support from BQE to setup our database initially, and it took several weeks to get through that process.

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Good time and project management/account solution for businesses

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This is one of the top business management software solutions that we've encountered.

Pros

We switched over to Core after using several other project/time management and accounting programs over the past several years. Since the switch to Core, we've been very happy with the results and the ability to automatically indicate to employees when they are overbudget on projects/tasks.

Cons

There is a bit of learning required on the user's parts before they know where to input time, expenses, and deliverables.

I am extremely happy with the switch from BQE legacy to Core

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The process of switching from BQE to Core was very much automated, and BQE staff were very helpful along the way.
Now that we are using Core, and staff is inputting their time cards daily, it’s so much easier monitoring time spent on projects in real time, and our invoices are going out at least a week earlier than before. I highly recommend Core whether you are currently using BQE legacy or any other project management program.

Cons

The roles and permissions in the modules for Administrator, Project Manager, Billing were not quiet aligned with our workflow, but it was easy for us to adjust.

We use this software to manage our architecture firm. I have 25 years in practice and I have used 4 similar programs - this is the best by far.

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The BQE company has been very responsive to suggestions and is making steady improvements. It is nice to use software that gets better over time.

Pros

The product is very powerful and provides quick information about how our projects are progressing - it allows us to know precisely how we are doing financially on each project. I like how flexible it is - much more flexible than other similar software I have used over the years. I like the interface and the customer service has been really excellent - they have been very responsive when we get stuck, and there has rarely not been a solution to our problems.

Cons

Sometimes the flexibility of the software makes it a little unwieldy. This software requires you to pay attention to what you are doing - because you can mess things up pretty quickly. There are times when I wish it had the ability to turn off some options - I would give up some power and flexibility to make it easier to work with. Invoice formatting needs some work.

Project Activity in CORE

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Pros

Core allows you to enter any number of activity that you can think of, there is no restriction as to Number of activities that can be created in CORE

Cons

When doing time assignment only 50 Activity are displayed.
Sorting of Activity is done Alphabetically based on the Codes, there is no other option to Sort the activities based on Sub Codes or Description or Bill Rate

Best all in one service

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With their budget and expense tracking it is easier to see where we are currently sitting, where we can cut cost, and have been able to stick closer to our budgets.

Pros

Having all account info, invoices, budgets, access to banks, profitability and performance reports available at all times in one place and on my phone is amazing. I am never unprepared no matter where I am.

Cons

I've noticed that their is a bit of lag when opening some reports or invoices but they may also be sue to my system.

Beware, no refunds!!

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Buyers beware, unless you are sure you want to use the program for the full amount of time you paid for, do not buy a year in advance until you try it out! Pay a little more for the monthly charges then you won't be gouged for a couple thousand dollars of unsatisfactory product.

For the reports and invoices, even though there are multiple templates, they are hard to customize or change most of the formats.

Pros

The program has several features for time and expense reporting and also multiple invoicing templates and reports which drew me to the program at first glance.

Cons

We purchased the BQE software program for a year’s subscription in advance, however, from the start we had extreme issues with the program’s performance. Multiple phone calls and emails were made to technical support to resolve the speed performance and timing out of the program, but it was never resolved. You would think that the tech people would know their software enough to know what caused the slow response time and timing out of their own program! A few weeks later we were forced to purchase another software program in order to continue with our business and discontinued using the BQE software program. We have not used this program since. Several attempts were made to ask for a refund, however, the company refused our refund. Read the contract, somewhere in the middle of about 50 pages, there is an 'all sales are final' clause.

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Billing is somewhat cumbersome for accounting practices with clients that are both fixed fee and hourly; workflows were not designed with accountants in mind

Review Source: Capterra

Kent from IPS

July 2018

July 2018

Awesome and easy to use

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BQE is awesome it makes things so easy when entering time and billing clients. Before we got BQE we would do everything by hand, when switching over it made thing go 10 times faster. Its a great software.

Cons

little glitches here and there but the customer support is so fast and responsive and the are willing to fix the software glitches.

Review Source: Capterra

July 2018

July 2018

It works

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It does the job. It can be a bit wonky and sometime you aren't sure if it's saving or freezing. Doesn't really have helpful features - like auto populating commonly used activity ID's. Very basic features.

Cons

Mobile app isn't great but allows you to update time when offline - which is helpful when you're updating on the subway. Customer service is not great but their account managers are on top of billing issues.

Very difficult software and the client service is pretty bad

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Good service before the purchase, after they want to make a dollar for every single question.

Cons

Very difficult to implement without paying the training. It is not intuitive. The client support is very poor.

Review Source: GetApp

April 2018

April 2018

A powerful and intuitive software solutions that's driven our efficiency to new heights

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The accounting features are easy to access & use. It's lead to a much greater sense of control of our business and best yet, we can access it even from our mobile phones.

Cons

Signing in multiple users can sometimes take some time to set up, but once that process is complete everything goes extremely smoothly.

Review Source: Capterra

Ines from Department of Education.

February 2018

February 2018

Great product! It has saved my so much time and made me a lot more organised.

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Nice and easy to use and helps me stay organised in time for tax. I don't have to store a whole stack of receipts as the software does it for me. I can also get a report to easily know what I am claiming for in tax.

Cons

There is not much not to like. They are even prized reasonably.

Review Source: Capterra

January 2018

January 2018

This has been released before it should have been. But has potential

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As close to nothing as you can get. Do not use it!

Pros

Intuitive design, easy to set up and easy to enter timesheets. In some cases there are some good instant data available

Cons

This is still in the Beta. When we originally got it there were Gannt charts. These have since been removed with no explanation. Various functions are still unavailable such as the ability to divide report into departments and offices. Most of the functions don't work. The live cost tracking does not work. There is inconstant use of terminology. Functions such a contract cost tracking on the structure does not work. The formulas for Spent are incorrect in some functions but correct in others. Customer service is the worst. When you call up generally you get told there is nothing they can do for a few months. Even had a customer service rep yell down the phone at me telling that Spent, represents hours invoiced, and Invoiced represents what was invoiced. When I pointed out it made no sense I was yelled at. However later I pointed out that the Project Status widget has SPent calculated at WIP+Invoiced which makes sense, I was told he has no more time and will look into it. Consistently I am promised calls back and don't get them. THis product has potential but I would advise right now not to use it.

Review Source: Capterra

November 2017

November 2017

Not ready for primetime!

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At this point, we get absolutely no benefit. I have spent over 100 hours of my time trying to set it up over the past month and our employees are still unable to use it to track their time and expenses. Very frustrating experience!

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Almost nothing about this software works properly. It is full of bugs and terrible user design. Support technicians, while nice, don't seem to be very familiar with the software.

Review Source: Capterra

Gerard from Mingara Australasia Pty Ltd

October 2017

October 2017

Has a long way to go

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Project integrated with time and expense management once stable

Pros

Good response to issues and extensive bugs with commitment to resolve over time. Tools for logging on and/or providing work around has been helpful (necessary).

Ability to add modules as required will provide a cost effective tools once the platform is stable.

Cons

BQE CORE has great potential, however as at 17th October 2017 it is still in beta format with lots of unresolved bugs and serious usability issues. Whilst BQE have been very responsive to our reports of software bugs and usability issues it is user beware and use at your own risk. I suggest you wait until mid next year before investing in this product.

The reviews for this product have been misrepresented and relate to the broader BQE software suite NOT BQE-Core. So don't be fooled (as I was).

There seems to be ZERO software quality assurance with this product, evidenced by software revisions with new bugs and half resolved issues. I think it is being developed in India not the USA but I am not sure what the exact arrangements are.

Terrible Customer Service

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Lot of report options, that's about it.

Cons

Horrible customer service. All they want to do is sell you expensive blocks of "training hours". Our training hours were spent waiting for our trainer to connect with his supervisor to get the answers to our questions. Then we come to find out that some of the initial information we were given about certain features and data entries being optional turned out to be required. BQE said they could help us fix the errors based on their incorrect information for hundreds of dollars which was just about the same price as what we paid for the software to start. Unbelievable, definitely feel like there was a lot of over-selling of the intuitive and seamless nature of this software. Does not seamlessly integrate with Quickbooks at all as it was advertised.

Review Source: Capterra

Dan from CHARCH

February 2017

February 2017

BillQuick is a great resource for our Architectural billing needs

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BillQuick is a great resource for our Architectural billing needs. It's design and features caters to our Architectural billing needs. Would be nice if the software functionality and features felt more modern and up to speed with other software platforms out there, similar to an web app feel.

Review Source: Capterra

Hong Ze from -

December 2016

December 2016

ArchiOffice 2016

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Pros:
Access - app syncs nicely with the main project - for timesheet entry
Online/web access - makes it platform independent - so you can access program on Mac or PC
Duplicate projects - you don't need to start from scratch to create a project
Invoice/Transaction Entry - easy to enter and track

Cons:
Timesheets are not as easy as they could be - other programs allow you to enter time by the week - this is an individual entry per project, per day.
NTX is for the project or phase - can't be coded as monthly - tried many work arounds - nothing worked.
Back function doesn't work - if you are looking at a timesheet entry in a specific project - you will back out to the home page of the project - not the timesheet screen.

BillQuick, an outstanding product for professional service firms!

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We switched to Bill Quick at just the right time! It allowed us to respond to client demanded invoice templates and enabled us to continue to grow without adding additional back office support staff. The mobile app is also great for time and expense entry and so is web suite for all our remote offices and mobile staff. Billing can be accomplished quickly with this product!

Cons

We work on the east coast and from time to time we have needed morning support and had to wait until support staff arrived at BQE who works in the pacific time zone. Not a major issue by any means, but still resulted is some downtime that otherwise could have been eliminated.

Advice to Others

I highly recommend this product. We only used QuickBooks before and needed a product that would integrate and provide enhanced project management tools and project structure with multiple phases. I highly recommend the initial support and training services offered that helped us get up and running faster and with less stress.

Review Source: Capterra

Response: BQE Software, BQE Software, Inc.

Date: August 2016

August 2016

Joseph, we are glad that BillQuick has been working great for you. Thanks for the feedback.